For as long as public space has existed, women and LGBTQ people have been trying to “occupy” it safely — with distressingly little success. Harassing comments, groping, flashing and assault are a daily, global reality for women and LGBTQ individuals. Too often, these injustices are met with little or no response, regarded simply as “the price you pay” for being female, trans, or gay in public. As supporters of the Occupy movement, we believe that a world where everyone has the right to occupy public space safely is not only possible – it is essential to building a strong and lasting movement.

It’s no secret that the Wall Street 1% who wrecked our economy are disproportionately straight and male, despite countless studies showing the less organizations look like the 99%, the less effective they are. As we quicken the pace of social change, we must be careful not to replicate Wall Street’s mistakes. The message is clear: equality means impact.

But for women and LGBTQ people to participate equally in the Occupy movement, we must be safe in occupied spaces. We know that harassment and assault happens everywhere — and that the Occupy movement is no more immune to it than our nation’s parks and parking lots — but we also know that a movement where women and LGBTQ individuals are not safe is not a movement that serves the interests of the 99%.

In solidarity with those who are already working on the ground to make safer spaces, we call on all General Assemblies of the Occupy movement to adopt anti-harassment and anti-assault as core principles of solidarity. To realize these principles within the movement, we call on General Assemblies in every city to empower women and LGBTQ occupiers with the time, space, and resources necessary to ensure that every occupied space is a safe space.

If your organization supports this call for safer spaces, please email [email protected] or [email protected] to be added to the list of co-signers. If you know other groups that have not yet joined this call to action, please contact them and ask them to stand with us! Let’s work together to make a safer world for everyone!

UPDATE! Thanks to our site leader in Mexico DF, we now have a Spanish translation!

5 Responses

I have been working with Occupy Denver and have been shocked (today feeling hopeless) re:the amount of abuse I have ad to put up with to participate in the movement. I am not sure what to do, as I have tried and tried to point it out…only to be told to stop drama and gossip. This lack of supports allows for the my treatment to be sanctified and continues.

[…] and safety issues for women and LGBTQ people in the movement was unanimously passed at a GA. It reads, in part, that “a movement where women and LGBTQ individuals are not safe is not a movement that serves […]

[…] and safety issues for women and LGBTQ people in the movement was unanimously passed at a GA. It reads, in part, that “a movement where women and LGBTQ individuals are not safe is not a movement that serves […]

[…] and safety issues for women and LGBTQ people in the movement was unanimously passed at a GA. It reads, in part, that “a movement where women and LGBTQ individuals are not safe is not a movement that serves […]